Working with schools to tackle online harms and gender-based violence
Authors: Phippen, A. and Bond, E.
Pages: 390-412
ISBN: 9781032172491
DOI: 10.4324/9781003252474-24
Abstract:There is an inextricable link between gender-based violence and the online platforms frequently used in attacks. Universities are certainly not immune to this form of gender-based violence, even if senior leaders would rather not acknowledge it happens on their campuses, and among their students. There is a belief across the Higher Education sector in the UK that students’ knowledge to recognise online harms, their impact, and how best to tackle them is developed in schools. The reality is that the development of knowledge in this area across the school sector, regardless of statutory demands, is ad hoc at best, and young people often leave mistrustful of adults, with more fear than understanding about online harms, and unwillingness to disclose harm. In the university sector, a lack of “encouragement” by the regulator means that institutions rarely deliver effective education for students around online harms, or have policies and practices in place to support those subject to abuse. An emphasis on the prevention of online harms is a sticking point for all institutions, and there is a need to refocus how we respond to disclosures to better support victim-survivors, rather than trying to adopt prohibition. Working in partnership with schools and supporting students prior to their arrival on campus would result in better support for those subject to abuse and stakeholders should work together for better outcomes for students of all ages.
Source: Scopus